The start:
My ‘07 start actually began in ‘06. That was when I ran both my
first Ultra and my first Wakely. During this first run to the Dam I was
more concerned with the distance to be covered and not getting lost.
Having mastered both, ‘07 was all about my time goals. I wanted a sub
six hour run. I positioned myself at the trail head to ensure I got a
good start down the trail.
After a few words from our leader, LOL, and the person who is
responsible for all of us being here running this thing, we are off.
Yee-Ha!
The run to the first Spruce
Lake
Lean-to
:
Careful not to go out too fast, I settled into a decent pace behind
the Canadian guy. A group of runners went out ahead of us. I briefly
thought about going after them, but decided against it. This was a good
decision because they soon came back to us.
I was happy with the way things were
going. This group with which I was running appeared to be places 2-8, (I
would have been eight), was going along together and running smoothly.
When we hit the first climb of the day, the group began to splinter.
Mainly I fell off the back. Once we got over the assorted rocks, hill,
and downed trees we were separating. Another decision time for me. Do I
speed up to catch the group or run my own pace? I chose the later which
worked out for me since I was soon running at the back of this pack
again. However, somewhere along the trail we separated for good. I
remember reaching the Spruce Lake Lean-to running alone.
Spruce
Lake
Lean-to
to the Sampson Bog:
The Spruce Lake Lean-to is my first check point. I think I reached
it in 1:34. As I approach the Lean-to there is a family camping there.
Focused on downing their Breakfast, they don’t see me running past
until I say good morning as I make the turn up the hill. Some guy in the
group converses with me. I answer him as I am running away. The last
thing he says to me is good luck as I pass the outhouse on my way to
Sampson Bog.
The trail turns very technical during
this next stretch. I am stumbling, and bumbling along the trail. A low
hanging branch nearly takes my head off. I experience my first fall of
the day. I step onto a downed tree in an attempt to cross over and my
foot slips right out from under me. No problem! I fall right into a tar
pit. These things provide for a soft landing. There were many other
missteps along this section. Too many to list. After a while I begin to
hear voices. Are they real? Sure enough. As I am approaching the Sampson
Bog I know I am about to be over taken by a group of runners. The first
guy goes by just before the water. At the waters edge, I jump into the
water deciding to wade across and forget about dry feet. Heres Canadian
guy standing in the middle of the river. I think he was refilling his
bottles. I exchange pleasantries as we pass. There is another three
runners coming down the hill as I wade across. It is the first women,
Kerry Arsenault, and two guys. The younger guy I will see later.
Onto
West
Canada
Lake
:
The run from Sampson Bog to
West
Canada
Lake
was pretty uneventful. I cross the bridge over the
West Canada
creek, pass the Lean-to, and onward to the clearing. As I approach the
clearing Greg Stone is there point to the turn to me and another runner
behind me. I’m at three hours according to my watch. I pass Greg and
won’t see him again until the grassy road. This stretch is difficult.
Lots of twists and turns. Lots of tar pits. Six or so miles to my next
check point, Cedar lake Lean-to.
Next check point: Cedar
Lake
Lean-to
:
I really could not wait to get to the
Cedar Lake Lean-to. It is a beautiful place, and only nine or ten miles
from the finish. I wish I could hang out here for the afternoon, but
there are Heinekens waiting in the car. This whole section was just
rough. Very technical. As I’m running along I hear voices again. Are
they real? Good news, there’re real. A runner just ahead of me was
talking to the young guy who had crossed the Bog with Kerry. He is
standing on the side of the trail on an uphill section. I ask if he is
OK as I pass. He tells me that he is throwing up. Now here’s a real
runner! I tell him that it is just less weight to carry, and wish him
luck as I go by. I’ll see him again at the finish. He looked great.
The Grassy Road:
First off, I hate the grassy road. ! I
think everyone agrees with that. Soon after I started down the road the
muscle in my inner leg seized up. This cramp brought me to a walk. Two
runners, one of which was Greg Stone, passed me as I walked off the
cramp. I told them that I will see them at the Dam. After a few minutes,
I was able to begin the grueling run up the road. As I was just starting
to feel whole again, I tripped on a rock embedded in the road. This put
me down hard in the section where the road turns from grass to stone. As
I tuck and roll, muscles in both legs seize up. I am rolling around the
ground in excruciating pain. It took me a couple of minutes before I
could even get to my feet. It took a couple more minutes of walking
before I could run again. There is Payne Brook and soon after the dirt
road to the Dam. Hurray!
I see a Bull Dozer:
The run down the dirt road is just a grind. You tell yourself to
just keep your legs moving. There is an end around the next corner or
the corner after that. I’m looking for a building, a sign of the
finish. I see a Bull Dozer parked on the side of the road. I’m careful
not to get exciting about my vision. It could be a false summit. But
look! A building! Now the adrenaline starts to pump again. One turn and
it is a sprint across the Dam. Turning the corner I see the current love
of my life. Yea she’s rather large and rigid, but I’ve run over 32
miles to be with her. Her name is Wakely Dam. I unclip my Camelback and
throw it to my Peep Paul to retrieve as I head down the hill to the Dam.
I run across her like a kid on his first visit to the State Fair. Across
the finish Line, and there is nobody that can be any happier. What a
feeling!
The Final word:
So there is my report. A report of a race
through the wilderness which was never held. A race I never entered. A
race which I never started and never finished. So how did I come to
possess these thoughts and experiences? Maybe it was from one of those
middle of the night visits from those Green men with the big black round
eyes. Those green men who transport you to the silver disk hovering in
the sky and insert all kinds of probes into….well some things are too
personal to share. However, I believe that many of you, whom also
didn’t run this race which was never held, may have also met one of
these visitors in our wilderness. (Fade to black)
Oh yea, almost forgot, missed my goal.
But beat last year’s time.
Bill McGovern
